Riyad enables endurance mode
I want to dedicate my hundred to my mother. She deserves it.
Mahmudullah Riyad
Bangladesh Batsman
An innings of 136 from 242 balls is not one that will set tongues wagging in a culture that still prioritises limited-overs cricket but it was a massively important one for Bangladesh and especially for one of the country's most respected cricketers.
Less than a month ago, Mahmudullah Riyad's lack of a Test century since his first one in February 2010 -- against New Zealand in Hamilton -- was a serious question mark about his aptitude in Tests. In contrast to their success in ODIs, Bangladesh's then flagging Test fortunes, especially after a humiliating loss against Zimbabwe in Sylhet, seemed to be connected to Mahmudullah's struggles with the bat in Tests. The same batsman who played with conviction in coloured clothing seemed, like the team itself, clueless in whites. It was a perplexing problem for a batsman who had undergone many transformations but could not make the necessary one in Tests.
He ended that century drought with a hundred in the second Test against Zimbabwe, and although a welcome development it still seemed that he drew on his limited-overs skills to rescue Bangladesh from a precarious position and set Zimbabwe a target. Yesterday against West Indies, Mahmudullah was in full Test mode and it was no coincidence that his highest Test score came on a day that has to go down as one of the best enjoyed by the country in Test cricket.
"I have been thinking from the second Test against Zimbabwe, I decided to take care of my mentality," he said at the post-day press conference. "I have brought some mental changes. It suits me how I bat in ODIs and T20s. I would go after the bowling even if from the first ball. I have had to work hard in this innings."
As the West Indies batsmen dropped like flies in the last hour of the day, it became clear that Bangladesh's score of 508 was well above par on the Mirpur wicket and the lion's share of that credit must go to Mahmudullah.
It was not a sublime innings, and that is what made it all the more valuable. He did struggle early on and admitted after the day's play that he was lucky on occasion, such as when the umpire's call saved him on two occasions in the first half hour. But whereas previously he was associated with attractive 30s, 40s and 70s, this time he stuck it out and was not afraid to bat ugly. He played for six hours and 16 minutes -- the most time he has spent at the crease in a Test innings. 242 was also by far the highest number of deliveries he played in an innings, bettering the 177 he managed in Hamilton almost nine years ago.
"The wicket wasn't that easy to bat on but we showed patience," a satisfied Mahmudullah said. "The boundary was big so we had to hit the ball really hard to put it in the gap. The ball wasn't coming on to the bat. I wanted to be positive, but take minimum risks."
One of the leaders in the team -- he was the stand-in captain against Zimbabwe -- this transformation in his outlook towards Test batting augurs well for Bangladesh. He is an avid proponent of playing one's natural game, which to less experienced ears may sound like playing shots regardless of situation and that has indeed been a scourge in Tests.
Yesterday, in word and deed, Mahmudullah set a valuable example that it is beneficial to curb natural instincts on occasion. Equally importantly, he proved his class in the most venerated form of the game, because only a batsman of Test class can score a hundred when the going is tough.
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